Food Trip Friday 02: Master Suki’s Crispy Crepes

Hi-ace and I love eating suki soup. You get to pick what you want to put in your soup from veggies, noodles, seafoods, meat, even dumplings and its a really delicious and healthy meal. We usually have it at least once a week. It’s inexpensive and also great to have in the company of friends. Lol! Finishing one pot is really difficult, so we usually go with family or friends.

A couple of days ago, we dropped by one of our favorite suki restaurants here in Phnom Penh – Master Suki. We go there mainly for the soup but Chinks tags along for a different reason…

Their dessert.. crepes..choose your own fillings..

strawberry jam..

chocolate sprinkles, sweet corn..

rolling it!

Chinks enjoying it..

Here’s another one..

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Beautiful Blogger Award..

What?!  I’m sure the ‘beautiful blogger’ part will raise some eyebrows hehe but who cares. I’m pretty sure Z of Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia still has 20/20 vision and her eyesight is working just fine when she gave me this award. And oh, I suddenly remembered ’sreisaat’ in Khmer language means ‘beautiful lady’ so she knows about beautiful, di ba Z?

Anyway, do drop by her blog. It’s a great read and she has really lovely lovely photographs of Cambodia and places she has visited. Yes, she’s my friend and I think I’ve mentioned before that I knew her through blogging and I’ve met her a few months back but I’ve been hooked reading her blog entries much longer than that. Do visit..

Blog award mechanics. Oops, this award comes with some strings attached, hmm? The recipient is asked to reveal seven things about her/himself. Ok, (you can hear me heaving a sigh of relief now..) it’s not really requiring me to recite tongue twisters while rolling my eyes and dancing to the tune of Lambada (grrr I super hate this song..). Hehe, just 7 things about me..

• I was born and raised in Albay Province, Philippines. So that makes me a true-blooded Bicolana. Uragon ( Bicol term meaning – a live-wire, go getter, a fighter) ako noh!

• I love watching Korean/Japanese movies/dramas. Mainly for the cinematography and I love hearing spoken Korean/Japanese language. And for some really really poignant stories..

• I am an experimental cook and my husband is my ‘guinea pig’. So far, he hasn’t been poisoned or rushed to the hospital because of my cooking.  And I do turn up some delicious stuff every now and then.

• I’m a shop o’ holic. Shopping and bargain hunting is a favorite pastime.

• I love the beach and nature. I grew up in a farm and we were just a 5-minutes walk away from the beach.

• I love playing tickle-till-you-surrender games with Chinks and Hi-ace. I always end up the loser.

• I’m addicted to taking strolls, long walks and soaking the atmosphere of every place I visit. When I travel you can usually find me in a market, a corner cafe just sitting and observing how life is for the locals.

I’m passing on the award to.. (I can’t come up with 15, so here’s some of my favorite reads..)

• I Love/Hate America - thought provoking yet very sensible posts from Bingkee. Always worth the visit..

• A Simple Life – I love Liza’s practical tips and tidbits of her life she constantly posts.

• Buhay sa Korea – a Filipina’s insights and experiences while living in Korea. Very informative and entertaining posts..

• Taxi Diary – Inspiring, moving stories. This is one of my absolute reads. The author even got publishing deals from his blog. I’m not sure he’ll post this but his blog is definitely going to my beautiful blogger award.

• Life of a Breadwinner – informative posts, places and events and best of all, very nice blogger =)

• American in Davao – unique insights to Filipino culture and tradition. A very interesting read.

• Coriander Dreams – laid back and personal. that’s how I would describe Coriander Dreams..She’s also into traveling which makes her blog all the more interesting.

• Brown Pinay – another favorite. Read on her latest experiences, tips, opinions and more.

And don’t forget the blog award mechanics..

1. Thank & link the person that gave you the award.
2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.
4. State 7 things about yourself.

Bargain Hunters Delight: Phnom Penh’s Japan Thrift

Yes, there are shopping malls here in Phnom Penh but I don’t really like shopping there for clothes. Mostly because they just sell stuff that can be easily found in Bangkok but at super high prices at times their markups are more than 300%! I only like going to these malls for coffee, to stroll around to get away from the heat, or to shop at the supermarkets. When it comes to clothes shopping I prefer going to Russian Market (Phsar Tuol Tompong) for casual stuff, shops along St. 240 for classy dresses, and lately we’ve been discovering lots of places to shop for vintage, second-hand items at super low prices.

I’ve been hearing long-term Phnom Penh expats rave about Japan Thrift Shop but I kept putting off going there because its a little far from our house. Anyway, a few weeks ago, Ouwie decided she wanted to have more blouses to add to her ‘work wardrobe’ but she doesn’t want to spend a lot. I suddenly remembered Japan Thrift, so I forego my morning blogging duties and doing research about nutrisystem to explore Japan Thrift Shop.

It’s located along St. 47, a street in the middle of Monivong Blvd. and Sisowath Quay, almost to the Old Olympic circle. I find it much easier to go from Wat Phnom, turn right to St. 47. The shop is located a few meters down Total Gas Station. It’s facade is a little indistinct so it might be easy to miss..

You can see some toys and shoes in racks outside the building but its the inside you might be wanting to see. I like the way items are organized here, makes sorting a teeny bit easier. Note that it is not air-conditioned, but the high ceilings and some fans help ease the heat, but do prepare bottled water in case you get so hooked at sorting those piles of goodies. Another perk is their fitting rooms so you can try on your finds before buying it!

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I Wanna Get Into Crafts Again!

I woke up really early today. For some reason I was not really sleepy though I went to bed very late last night. I fixed breakfast for Hi-ace and Chinks (not a very hard thing to do anyway, they like eating light breakfast..), then I just stood near the sink, holding my acne face wash, and staring at the mirror. I didn’t realize I was standing there for more than five minutes when Hi-ace finally gave me a nudge.

This is not me, but I look like this when I’m thinking..Really.

When I’m being like this he’s just cool with it. I guess he already accepted the fact that he married a semi-lunatic moody wife, with a weird artistic temperament. Okay, so he just raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you okay, Hon-hon?” That woke me up from my reverie, mainly because he quit calling me “Your Highness” and reverted back to calling me “Hon-hon”. Or maybe he could guess I was not in a joking mood, hmm?

Anyway, the reason I’ve been having tulala bouts (err long stretches of absent mindedness) is that I’ve been longing to do something with my hands again. I’ve always been the arts and craft type, I need to always have something where I could channel my creative drive to. Otherwise, I usually end up always obnoxious and overbearing lol! For the past few days I’ve been surfing the net like mad for some crafts supplies but not much luck really.

First Try on Spiral Seed Bead Bracelet

I’ve decided to do more beading and jewelry. Not on a commercial scale but more like a hobby, a pastime for me. Making a business out of it is also a little hard here in Phnom Penh as materials cannot be easily sourced. I’m very picky when it comes to materials for making patterned beading. For one, the quality of the beads really makes or breaks the piece. I prefer even sized beads which I could only find in Japanese made beads, which I can’t find here in Phnom Penh. Another thing is that, beading takes time and effort so I would want my pieces to be of top quality. So, the next best option for me is to order online and have it shipped here.

Beaded Cellphone Charms From My Leftover Beads

Shipping is also another concern. I’ve looked into creating my own beads using metal clay and polymer clay. The clay is relatively inexpensive, but it is heavy and bulky and though shipping rates are just okay, but I’m pretty concerned about customs and duties that I’ll be billed with when it arrives here. I’ve been searching like mad too for customs and duties rates here in Cambodia, I’ve also been asking around but I only got really frustrated. It seems to be that the rates are on a whim? And being a foreinger, I’ll probably be billed a couple more times than the usual..

Another idea I have been pondering on is having custom made handbags in simple, functional designs then I’ll have it embellished with beads, crochet items etc. I found lots of patterns I like online and I picked some that I can make with muslin fabric and I also like bags using denim fabrics..I’ll probably have some sewed by my tailor when I go home in July then I’ll bring over samples and look for a tailor here to do it for me.

Just like the sling bag above. I want to have it sewn in a different fabric, preferably plain, then I’ll have it embellished, free form. Hayy, I’m actually chokefull of ideas.. I wish I could get my hands into some materials soon. I’ll be exploring O’Russey Market within the next few days and I’ll see what I could come up with..

Yep, I’m Really Getting Older

No. This is not a maudlin, over-dramatic post. In fact, this post is about my birthday. From the time I turned 25 I tried to ignore my birthdays, in fact it would suit me just fine if they removed March from the calendar.  Lol!  The truth is, I’m okay with being in my 30’s,I even feel more comfortable with my age now than I did when I was just in my 20’s.

The problem really is that I don’t fancy celebrating anymore. Not in a big way. I did that before and now I prefer to keep things quiet. Just being with the people I love most is enough of a celebration for me. I do appreciate greetings, (gifts are okay too haha!) but there are times it could get overwhelming.

So now, the day is getting near again. There’s no escaping it, I was trying to forget about it but friends and relatives just keep reminding me. Just today I got 6 SMS asking me about a ‘party’ (as if we could have that when they are all in the Philippines!!) and several messages online too. Hayy, driving home the fact that really I’m turning 31 and might be needing botox soon or maybe just some firming face cream.

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Trying To Get Fit. Seriously.

I used to weigh just right, before I gave birth I was never worried about my weight, about plus size wear, about diets etc. Then, when I got pregnant I just ballooned. I wasn’t worried coz I thought I’ll just lose it after I gave birth.

After Chinks was born, a year after we came to Phnom Penh and for  months we didn’t have any helper so I had to do everything. It was definitely a way for me to lose weight. I still ate a lot, but the added exercise of doing a housework which I wasn’t accustomed to plus the stress of being in a foreign place just made it easy. No need for quick weight loss diet to get the weight I wanted.

Then we went back to the Philippines, and a couple of months after I started my fashion accessory business. This required lots of time with me sitting down. I fell into a very sedentary lifestyle, plus we lived almost right next to a mall and eating out was almost like an everyday thing. Before I knew it I was heavier than my after-birth weight.

I did try to lose weight but mostly with half-hearted efforts. I even bought a stationary bike and I only used it for a month and it went to the stock room. It’s only now that I’m really seriously getting into achieving a healthy weight. I’ve decided I want to lose weight not in a fast way, but more in a steady, balanced way.

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Reminders to Self..

I’m slacking off, I know. Not with blogging though, I’m pleased to say since February I’ve been posting regularly hahaha. I dunno, it just helps me cope with homesickness and missing my parents back home in the Philippines. It must also be because I know were going home in July. (I hope my mother won’t read this, and for my relatives checking this out, PLS. don’t tell my parents about our vacation in July, its supposed to be a surprise for them)  It should be a secret but I can’t help blabbering about it again, that’s how excited I am about going home for a long vacation. Lol! I just hope they won’t find out in advance so they can enjoy the surprise of seeing Chinkee again. Did I mention they don’t really miss me but only Chinks? Hayy, I’ve resigned myself to being ignored since I gave them a grandchild. Haha, seriously I don’t mind, I find it very amusing though, how my parents dot on my daughter.

Anyway, this post is about reminding myself again what I have to do this March..Some sort of checklist for me, I’m placing it here because it pressures me to accomplish the task.

Home and Shopping..

• Look for an area rug and some of those Khmer style floor/sitting cushions.
• Look for a door chime or maybe make one myself.
• Nag Graciously ask Hi-ace about painting or tiling the front stairs.
• Re-pot my bougainvilleas.
• Visit Boeung Keng Kang Market again and hunt for 4 panels of embroidered curtains.
• Shop for tank top shirts or thin cotton shirts. Should not get sidetracked with cute kid stuff =)
• Look for a backpack. I can’t find my other bag and I need one before the 26th.

Crafts..

• Check O’Russey Market for some seed beads. Japanese or Czech variety will do.
• Also for some beading thread.
• Continue downloading beading patterns.
• Make some beading patterns with my bead tool.
• Search for suppliers of polymer clay online. I had no luck finding it here in Phnom Penh, hayy!

Web and Blogging

• Finish uploading plugins to my new blog – Lui-Bloggera.
• Update other blogs.
• Finish TaskWise schedule reminders.
• Upload free ad spot banners and headers. (I keep forgetting this!!)
• Visit and read more blogs..

Important (yeah  these are really important)

• More cardio exercises.. jumping rope go, go, go!
• Veggies and fruits only for dinner. I should go with this strictly. lol!
• Buy dumbbells.

Living in Phnom Penh: Lazy, Happy Weekend

Leisurely Saturday..

I love weekends like this. Just doing nothing, spending the day with Hi-ace, Chinks and Ouwie. It rarely happens that all of us are not busy, more often than not we have someplace else to go even during weekends. Hi-ace didn’t have any meetings, trips or classes. When its like this we take advantage of the time to just be together.

Yesterday morning was spent just lazing around, sleeping till 8 am, eating a leisurely breakfast, then we played board games. Afternoon we spent biking around Phnom Penh. It’s been awhile since we’ve done this and I had a fun time. We also brought Chinks to the bookstore since she had been asking for some art supplies.

We also browsed those sidestreet vendors along Monivong Blvd., offering printing of business cards and wedding invitations. We both want to have some printed and those sidestreet sellers are really offering value for printing services. 100 pcs of business cards cost just less than $10 depending on the design and you can also have your own design printed for an additional fee. As for the wedding invitations, hmm they have a wide variety of designs some amusing, some cute, some very elaborate and some really with lots of embellishments. I didn’t inquire about the price though hehe..

Sunday shopping..

Hi-ace and Chinks went with Ma to visit their uncle in Kandal province. They left about 6:30 am so I had some free time to do some shopping. Food shopping was done first, of course, in Russian Market (Phsar Toul Tompong). Got our week’s supply of vegetables, meat, fish and fruits. Shopping in local markets is now a breeze for me, I already have regular suki vendors so I get a good price plus freebies.Ouwie and I also roamed around the clothing section coz I was planning to buy some tank tops. The summer heat is getting unbearable so I wanted to have some cotton shirts. After browsing several stalls I found myself buying stuff for Chinks instead. Bought her a couple of shirts and I also found lots of cute swimwear and I also got her some since she’s taking swimming lessons already in school.

10:30 am, the market was already crowded so Ouwie and I decided to escape from the crowds and headed for a cup of coffee at the Coffee Korner just off the Russian Market. This has already been our favorite coffee place after doing our shopping rounds of Phsar Tuol Tompong.

Hi-ace and Chinks got back around 12 noon, so now were all lazing around again. Me, writing this really lazy post, Hi-ace watching TV, Chinks tumbling around the floor and Ouwie reading a book. Wish every weekend would be like this haha! I should really get back to reality..

Road to Preah Vihear

I was unable to sleep again last night so I downloaded Hi-ace’s photos from their recent Preah Vihear-Siem Reap- Battambang trip. It was his students from PUC who organized the tour mainly for their community outreach projects. We were supposed to join but we were unsure about the road conditions and we don’t want to drag Chinks on a road trip that would last for 3 days. Hi-ace also told me that the landscape would be pretty dreary and dusty because its dry season.

He was right. Not much greens around and it was really really dusty. Road conditions were okay. Though there were certain parts going to Preah Vihear where the bus had a hard time going through particularly some bridges.

Once they reached the base of the mountain where the temples are, buses cannot go on anymore. The Preah Vihear temples are located on a mountain and I was surprised to learn, its not just one temple but several, all around the mountain. So you are in for a steep climbing and walking exercise till you reach the last temple perched near the summit of the mountain. I guess this makes these temples extra special. And Hi-ace says, the views not to mention the temples is more than enough to make up for the effort in going there..

The road going up the temples is well paved but it was very steep. Scary, really just looking at the photos but they seemed to be having the time of their lives and if it was me, I would be enjoying the adventure too (sans Chinkee though)..Only those hardy 4×4’s and expert drivers can really navigate these roads, I think. Makes me think that really you’re in the middle of nowhere..

Some of the  photos were taken while on the bus so some might be blurry. I demanded err requested Hi-ace to take lots of photos and he did. lol!  Hmm, I guess if you’re looking for some adventure this is one place to go..

Will post Preah Vihear Temple photos next. Check out my PHOTOS page for more photos.

Food Trip Friday 01: Fried Cambodian Rice Cakes

I love food blogs and I’ve always been lurking on and following food meme blogs, though I never joined (I’m usually lazy.. lol!). I learned about FoodTripFriday from a friend’s blog – We Ate This! And I had been pondering about joining, I love to cook, we eat out more often than I want to, err whenever I’m lazy to cook, and I also love sampling unique and exotic cuisines..

So here it goes.. My very first FoodTripFriday entry..

Cambodian rice cakes are sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves then steamed. It also comes in several variants. They simplest one would have ripe and mashed bananas as fillings, some with monggo beans and pork, while this one comes with monggo beans, pork and mushrooms. These rice cakes are a main stay during Khmer special occasions and is also usually used as offering during Buddhist religious rites.

When you buy these rices cakes its already cooked and steamed and can be kept for a few days. You can then slice it, then eat it as is, but I prefer deep frying it for an extra crisp..Yummy and so filling. Trust me, two slices is enough to fill me up.

Phnom Penh Riverfront Photos

Here in Phnom Penh one of the places to be is the riverfront. Officially known as Sisowath Quay, the riverfront is a great place to stroll, to join those ever popular mass tai chi and aerobics sessions, eat in the numerous cafes and restaurants lining the street, feed the pigeons in the park right in front of the Royal Palace, to shop for some souvenirs, and to simply sit and enjoy the river views.

As for us, we like driving around this place, getting ourselves a place to sit and people watch for an hour or two, just taking in the vibe of the place. It has been something like our favorite weekly ritual since we started living in Phnom Penh.  I always have a camera with me, a digital camera if I’m toting a handbag with me, or my phone with a camera if I just have my favorite wrist pouch with me. So since I’m compulsive about taking photos, I didn’t realize I’ve collected a good number of photos of Phnom Penh riverside. Let me just share..

The Royal Palace… taken before 7 am, the best time to take photos here I think..

Rows of Flags.. Chinks likes these. She gets to name which country a flag belongs to..

The other side of the road.. lined with hotels, cafes, restos..

Viewing deck…

Chinkee loves feeding the pigeons..

Newly revamped riverside park right before the port..

More on my PHOTOS page..

Koh Kong Trip Part 2: Mangrove Forest Park and Koh Kong City

Another long overdue post.. This is the sequel to my Koh Kong Trip, Part I, which I know I should have posted ages ago but due to combined reasons of laziness, procrastination, convenient memory gaps, on top of Facebook addiction, well, I am now months late in posting this update.

After that refreshing Koh Kong Tatai Waterfalls picnic and swimming, we all piled ourselves in the van and headed towards Koh Kong City. This was another scenic drive and in just thirty minutes we were in Koh Kong town proper. Hmm, a very typical Cambodian town, the only difference was that the roads were wider or maybe it was because it was 12 noon and no one wants to beat the heat of the sun and stay on the road..

Photo above is the riverfront and that long bridge going towards the Thai border – Had Lek. After a few minutes driving around and checking guesthouses, we settled on Bopha Koh Kong Hotel. Not exactly five star accommodations but the rooms were huge and comfy. We got a twin room with ensuite bathroom with hot shower, a TV with lots of channels though mostly Thai, a personal ref and AC. Not bad at all for $18 only per night. In Koh Kong, Thai Bahts are generally more acceptable than the US Dollars or Cambodian Riels.

It was already 1 pm and you can bet I was hungry already. Thankfully, our relatives were done with their quick showers and we all piled up on the van again to have lunch somewhere. We stopped in a small resto, no signs on it, but its right on the riverfront, with several vans parked in front. I was pretty apprehensive about eating on the shack-type restaurant but I went along as this seemed to be the choice of my sister-in-law. But wow! I shouldn’t have been that scared. Let me just put it this way, that must have been the tastiest Khmer  and Thai food I’ve ever had, and I’ve had plenty. To this day, I could still imagine savoring that spicy Tom Yum soup we had, and I’m not even exaggerating. It’s just too bad I wasn’t able to take photos and I was also shy about asking them to wait before sampling the food whilst I was taking pictures of it. They already think I’m plenty weird so I settled on not having photos of the food.

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Playing Dress Up..

It was a really boring afternoon last Saturday. We were planning to revive Chinkee’s pond in a pot. Last time it had lots of fishes already but somebody played with it while we were not around and all her fishes died. She has been asking to have it again, Hi-ace though is always busy to take care of it. We were planning to buy a small garden pond filter and some fishes but we got distracted walking around the malls. Before we knew it twas early evening already. We had early dinner in KFC, came back home then watched TV. We realized we still had time to kill before bedtime, so I decided to raid my closet to organize my clothes. All things I don’t use anymore I packed for donating. I love doing this, I almost always unearth something I’ve forgotten that I have.

I was digging, digging, sorting when I saw a gauzy black empire cut dress a friend gave me last year. I haven’t worn it coz its too short for me, I could wear it with leggings but I always thought I don’t look good on leggings (hehe with my fat legs and all..). But I kept this dress coz I like its stretchy bodice, I mean even if I get totally huge, I could still wear it..Lol! Anyway, my little fashionista and kikay daughter saw it and tried it on. I had to tie the back with a ribbon so it wouldn’t fall off. Haha! She was giggling and asked me to fix her hair, ‘Tie it up, please Mommim and take photos of me..”

Lol! We had loads of fun taking photos again. Hmm, this is something that I really like about living in Phnom Penh. Life is simple, at an unhurried pace so I get to enjoy and play silly games like this with Chinks.

So here she is..And no I didn’t tell her how to pose. She just posedand pouted by herself with me just snapping photos with my phone’s camera..

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Blogger Tips: Earn By Selling Links with Ask2Link

I’ve been looking for ways to monetize my other sites. I haven’t been really that successful with Google Adsense with my other blogs and I’m far more interested in finding other ways to earn money from my blogs. A year ago, a blogger friend suggested selling links. Hmmm, interesting. I have tried out two well-known text links companies for my blogs and I just love it! Regular monthly income and I don’t do anything but update my blogs and generally keep it alive.

This made me far more interested in selling text links as a way to earn from blogs and I’ve been looking around for similar companies that could help me sell text links. Then I found Ask2Link from another blog and I signed up. Getting things started with them is real easy. I’ve just installed the widget and once you’re done, your site will be up in their marketplace. It does help to have a PR when you sign up though.

Why I like Ask2Link? (1) You have the freedom to choose your links selling price. (2) Its easy to sign up. (3) Their text link ads are non-obtrusive. You can easily blend it in your sidebar.  (4) No minimum payout. Now this is a really good point. They pay every month so even if you just earned a small amount you don’t have to wait to enjoy it. (5) Publishers are accepted no matter where you are. (6) Full control of text link ads you add to your site. (7) And best of all, they support more varieties of website platforms even WORDPRESS.COM and BLOGSPOT blogs.

Before I had a hard time looking for text link brokers that accept  wordpress.com and blogspot sites but Ask2Link does. So, I had been trying this out on some of my Blogspot blogs. I’m still waiting to get my first link and hopefully it’ll be soon. Check out Ask2Link website and sign up to earn from your blogs.

Living in Phnom Penh: Just Let Me Ramble On..

Time for my regular rambling, pointless (haha!) updates..What had I been up to for the past few days? Nothing! Really, except for a few errands here and there, things had been pretty quiet for a change..

February just passed by like a breeze for me. I know it just has 28 days but it didn’t leave me with much impression. Also, though February is where Valentine’s Day falls on, we didn’t really do anything special. We all just spent the day together, me, Hi-ace and Chinks playing board games in the morning, afternoon attending Hi-ace’s school affair then a leisurely family dinner in a Thai restaurant. That’s it! I guess I’m long past appreciating flowers, chocolates and romantic dinners during Valentine’s day, uggh I even find it corny and I get annoyed at those romantic blah blahs being shoved in your face every time the 14th draws near. Happiness now for me, stems from those family bonding moments, times were just together without even doing anything special or being anywhere fancy. Funny, but I feel really content and happy at this point..

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Air Asia’s Big Sale is ON!

Time to score more travel deals with Air Asia’s Big Sale. Booking period is March 3-7 2010 for travel period September 25, 2010 to February 13, 2011. Flight fares are as usual at all time low.. Read more about the Big Sale..

Living in Phnom Penh: A Day Trip to Kirirom National Park

Last Sunday, Hi-ace got a call from his best friend inviting us to spend the day at Kirirom National Park. Chinkee was ecstatic coz she misses playing with Noel,their 2-year old son. So we set off for the 3 hour drive at around 8 am.

This is actually my second trip to Kirirom, though last time we went there it was raining hard, so no good photos and I also forgot to write about it. This time though the weather was awesome so I have plenty of photos. If you’re living in Phnom Penh, this is one of the places to escape to if the chaos of Phnom Penh gets a little unbearable.

Ok, so what’s with Kirirom? Its a National park located about 112 km from Phnom Penh, with a lush forest and pine trees. If you’re from the Philippines just imagine the place to be a little similar to Baguio or Tagaytay but with a lot less people around . It’s a very popular picnic area for Khmers as it allows them to escape the hustle and bustle plus the heat of Phnom Penh. Most Khmers go to several waterfalls near the area  and these usually have picnic huts you can rent. I noticed though that the streams were a little dried out so swimming is a little out of the question. Must be because its summer time.

Going there by public transpo is a bit hard I was told but its still possible. I saw some foreigners there too and they hired motorbikes to get there. The best way still is to have your own transportation. National Highway 4 (NH4) is pretty scenic but I was very much on my toes as there are lots of cars, taxis with kamikaze drivers. And not only that, there plenty of cows roaming around the highway so things are interesting. Once you turn towards the National Park, there are less cars, more greens…

We reached the place around 11 am, picked a picnic hut near the stream. Khmer picnic huts are usually elevated, with some nipa thatch for roofing, and mats for lounging around. Khmers love eating sitting lotus-style so its hard to find huts with tables in their picnic places.

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Affordable Spa Indulgence @ Bamboo Spa

Who doesn’t like experiencing a bit of pampering every now and then? I love massages and here in Asia its quite easy to indulge with lots of spas and salons in most major cities. It’s a tradition that has sprouted different kinds of salons as well as types of massages like Balinese, Thai, Shiatsu etc.. And it has been good to know that Phnom Penh also has it share of spa’s tourists, expats and locals frequent.

I’ve been looking for a spa here in Phnom Penh where I could regularly have my full-body massage as well as foot massages. True, there are lots of spas and massage parlors to choose from and I’ve tried out several in the area, but most of them are quite pricey and its a little hard to indulge when I keep thinking of the cost of each massage haha. I know every since I became a mom, I’ve been a little hard on myself and I tend to be really thrifty.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I met a lovely Filipina friend and she invited us all to her newly opened spa. It’s called Bamboo Spa and its located at No. 21 St 228. It’s quite easy to find, its  very near Pasteur (St.51) along the same street as International SOS and three doors down from the Italian restaurant – Le Dou.

They have a good range of services and their full-body massage comes highly recommended. I love the small spa ambiance, the scents of the oils and of course, the super relaxing massage. And another thing to love is the price! Full body massages cost less than $10 for more than an hour of pampering. At that price, I could easily make it a weekly indulgence! Bamboo Spa – exactly what I’ve been looking for. Pampering at an unbeatable price..

It’s a must visit.. Check out the link to the map for the Bamboo Spa location. Will post photos soon. =) And you can email  Bamboo Spa at bambootree_house@yahoo.com or call 089-630791 and look for Elma.

View Bamboo Spa in a larger map

I Totally Forgot..

To Renew THIS DOMAIN! For those who dropped by late last Sunday and early Monday, I’m so sorry. Pinaywifespeaks went on a short holiday =). I own several domains and all of them I bought from GoDaddy and domain management has been a breeze for those domains.

I’ve forgotten that this domain – Pinaywifespeaks, I have registered elsewhere,then transfered to Hostgator. I haven’t been checking my email and Hostgator has been emailing me about the expiring domain. Then I checked the site last Monday coz my cousin said something weird was coming out when she types in my URL, and my blog site was replaced by a webpage selling adult toys and photos. Hehe so this sent me in a panic mode, and I was thinking, ‘Has my site been hacked?? Who would even bother to hack this?’

I then contacted Hostgator’s 24/7 tech support and you can imagine my relief when they said that its simply a case of the domain expiring. Ok, I just love Hostgator’s support team. They are very accommodating and patient in guiding a semi-crazy person like me. I’m not very familiar with renewing domains and billing with Hostgator but the guy from tech support guided me all throughout. Few minutes and less than $20 later, I had my domain back. Whew! I should really set a reminder about this. I’ll probably be putting this on auto-renewal mode so this won’t happen again.